More Students Using Blogger

Today, the rest of my seniors are test-driving Blogger. Adrianna, who deeply loves to write, impressed me with a busy blog filled with entries ranging back to January. Miss Mitchell, from the senior project seminar encouraged her to start one, and Miss McClendon has not looked back.
I think having my students blog can be useful for a few reasons.

1. Many students already keep a journal or have been looking for an excuse to start one because they want to preserved their words for posterity.
2. Blogging can actually help students improve their writing because they know others will read their entries. Who wants to look like a dope, showing off entries stuffed with silly errors that any second grader could fix.
3. Blogging enables students to respond to their peers' postings in what will hopefully be a cordial tone.
4. Students can share with others what they did over the weekend or on vacations, very much like keeping a digital scrapbook, complete with photos and commentary.
5. Blogging could enable students to find people from around the country or the immediate area who share their specific interests.
6. Those who decide be creative could take their blogs to the next level and make them look polished and professional. Blogger features many well-designed blogs in a "Favorites" column. Who knows, this could be part of a professional portfolio.
7. Blogging helps eliminate paper and helps me keep papers organized.